Guides for flexible elements of coal mining apparatus



July 24, 1956 A. L. BARRETT GUIDES FOR FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS OF COAL MINING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1949 [22%222022- Lee BarreZZ.

July 24, 1956 A. L. BARRETT GUIDES FOR FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS OF COAL MINING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1949 5 SheetsSheet 2 122062220 y A.l166 Barrel? W QZZarzzey.

. NM? e o o Q 0 0 0 Q QQQ .O 1/ of M oe mi. 0M

0 O G o @00 00 00 0 RAN July 24, 1956 A. L. BARRETT GUIDES FOR FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS OF COAL. MINING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 NM m a n e e e r a Wm y B an e 2 o a a M E. Q W9 mm mn 10W P NMWE M Cu @X UW m6 is Q & Q

July 24, 1956 A. BARRETT GUIDES FOR FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS OF COAL MINING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 8, 1949 July 24, 1956 A. BARRETT 2,756,039

GUIDES FOR FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS OF COAL MINING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1780622202: A.L6 BarreZZ.

United States Patent i GUIDES FOR FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS OF COAL MJNING APPARATUS Arthur Lee Barrett, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 8, 1949, Serial No. 86,153

15 Claims. (Cl. 262-49) This invention relates to guides for flexible elements and more particularly to supporting and guiding means for the flexible conductor elements such as the electric cable and fluid conduits of a coal mining apparatus, whereby draping of the conductor elements at scattered points about the apparatus, with the resultant possibility of entanglement and damage thereto, is substantially avoided.

In a coal mining apparatus, such as a continuous mining apparatus similar to that disclosed in the copending applications to John D. Russell Serial No. 47,421 and John R. Sibley Serial No. 47,422, both filed on September 2, 1948, both abandoned and replaced with the applications to John D. Russell Serial No. 102,995 and John R. Sibley Serial No. 102,996, each filed July 5, 1949, as a .continuation-in-part of its respective prior application, all of the applications being owned by the assignee of the present invention, a mobile base is adapted to travel over the floor of a mine and carries a coal attacking and disintegrating meohanism which is pivotally mounted on the base to swing horizontally into different angularly related adjusted positions with respect thereto, which has rectilinear movements back and forth in a horizontal direction radially relative to the axis of horizontal swing and which is pivoted to swing in vertical planes, all while the base remains stationary. Since the electric control apparatus and the source of hydraulic pressure are embodied within the base of the apparatus and the swingable structure on which the attacking and disintegrating mechanism is'mounted carries the electric motors for driving the attacking and disintegrating mechanism and also supports several of the hydraulically operated devices for effecting the operating and adjusting movements of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, together with the water spray devices for allaying the dust, it is necessary, without the provision of adequate supporting and guiding means, to extend the electric conductor cable and the fluid conduits .for the hydraulically operated devices and the spray device along the top and the sides of the apparatus so that there is a possibility of the electric conductor cable and the fluid conduits becoming entangled and engaged with moving parts of the apparatus or otherwise obstructed during the various operating and adjusting movements of the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism, so that possible damage to and breakage of the conductor elements may occur. The present invention contemplates improvements in an apparatus of the character referred to in that an improved guide is provided for supporting and guiding the conductor elements whereby the possibility of the same becoming entangled or damaged and broken is substantially eliminated. The supporting and guiding means of the present invention is arranged in an extremely compact manner on the horizontally swingable supporting structure for the attacking and disintegrating mechanism and is so constructed that the slack portions or bights of the conductor elements which are arranged within the confines of the apparatus, are adequately supported and Patented July 24, 1956 guided while at the same time they are fully protected from the possibility of damage.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved guide for flexible conductor elements or the like. Another object is to provide an improved supporting and guiding means for the slack portions of flexible conductor elements such as the electric conductor cable and the fluid conduits of a coal mining apparatus, whereby the possibility of entanglement and damage to and breakage of the conductor elements is substantially avoided. Yet another object is to provide an improved guide for the flexible conductor elements of a mining apparatus whereby slack portions of the conductor elements are supported and guided in a novel manner during the various operating and adjusting movements of the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism of the apparatus. Still another object is to provide an improved guide for the flexible conductor elements of a coal mining apparatus of the type wherein several of the motors and hydraulic actuating devices of the apparatus are swingable horizontally with respect to a relatively stationary part which carries the electric control apparatus and the source of hydraulic pressure, with the conductor elements extending along the stationary part to the motors and hydraulic actuating devices, whereby the intermediate slack portions of the conductor elements are adequately supported and guided during the swinging adjustments of the swingable parts. Another object is to provide an improved guide for the flexible conductor elements of a coal mining apparatus of the type wherein a coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism is mounted on a base for horizontal swinging and adjusting movements, for rectilinear operating movements and swinging movements in vertical planes, and which has its driving motors and the power devices for eflecting its operating and adjusting movements, in certain instances, movable horizontally and, in other instances, also movable rectilinearly therewith, with the conductor elements extending along the base to the motors and the power devices, whereby the intermediate slack portions which permit freedom of movement of the conductor elements during such horizontal and rectilinear movement, are adequately supported and guided. A still further object is to provide an improved arrangement of flexible conductor elements and their supporting and guiding means with the slack portions of the conductor elements arranged in loops or bights within the guide so that the loops or bights may expand or contract during certain swinging adjustments of the apparatus. Still another object is to provide an improved arcuate guide within which the slack portions of the conductor elements are supported and guided and which is arranged in a novel manner with respect to the axis of horizontal swinging movement of the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism so that when the mechanism is swung horizontally in either direction relative to the base, the flexible conductor elements are adequately supported and guided while the placing of undue strains on the conductor elements is avoided. A still further object is to provide an improved conductor-element-guide for a coal mining apparatus of the kind wherein the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism is mounted on a base to swing horizontally with respect thereto about an upright axis and to move rectilinearly in radial directions relative to the base, with the conductor elements so supported and guided with respect to the upright axis and with the guide so arranged that it may swing horizontally with the attacking and disintegrating mechanism thereby adequately to support and guide the slack bight portions of the conductor elements at all times without the placing of undue tension thereon. Another object is to provide an improved arcuate guide structure arranged in a novel manner in adjacencyto the slack portions or bights of the conductor elements may be arranged in an extremely compact and well protected manner within the confines of the apparatus. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown. for putposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a coal mining apparatus of the type known as a continuous miner, with which a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention is associated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, on a substantially reduced scale, of the mining apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in central longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the location of the improved guide on the apparatus and details of the guide structure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane of Fig. 3, but on an enlarged scale, illustrating the guide structure.

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of Fig. 6, showing the guide in one of its angularly located positions with respect to the base of the apparatus. 1

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic system of the apparatus and the arrangements of the various electric cables and fluid conduits.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention the improved guide, generally designated 1, is shown associated with a continuous mining apparatus, generally desi nated 2, and of the type fully disclosed in the Russell and Sibley applications, above referred to. It will be evident, however, that the invention, at least from certain aspects thereof, may be associated with other types of apparatus wherein the guidingof flexible elements is desirable.

The continuous mining apparatus 2 generally comprises a portable support or mobile base 3, herein a tractor or crawler base, having a frame 4 which. has swivelled thereon at 5 to swing about an upright axis in horizontal planes with respect thereto a horizontal supporting frame or turntable 6. The swivelled supporting frame or turntable has a horizontal portion 7 projecting forwardly in advance of the base 3, and guided on this horizontal frame portion for movement rectilinearly back and forth relative thereto in a radial direction relative to the swivel axis is a sliding frame or support 8, on which a swingable frame or bar structure 9 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal transverse axis to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto and to swing horizontally with the swivelled supporting frame or turntable 6 relative to the base 1. The vertical swingable frame or bar structure 9 extends forwardly in advance of the swivelled frame, with its pivotal axis located, when the sliding frame 8 is retracted, a substantial distance in advance of the base. The swingable frame or bar structure 9 carries a mine vein or coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism, generally designated 10, for detaching and disintegrating the coal or similar mineral in relatively wide vertical segments from a solid coal seam or mine vein. Arranged coaxially with the swivel of the horizontally swinging frame 6 is a receiving and collecting hopper 11 which is mounted in stationary relation with respect to the base frame 4; and a front loading conveyor 12, carried by the sliding frame 8, serves to convey the disintegrated coal or the mineral discharged from the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism rearwardly of the sliding frame to the hopper 11. Mounted on the base frame is a rear discharge conveyor 13 which has its receiving end projecting downwardly within the hopper for moving the disintegrated coal or other mineral from the hopper rearwardly of the apparatus to a suitable point of delivery remote from the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism. The rear discharge end of the front conveyor 12 overlies the hopper and is so arranged that it discharges into the hopper in all positions of the sliding frame and the attacking and disintegrating mechanism with respect to the horizontally swingable frame 6. The coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism 10, as disclosed in the Russell and Sibley applications, comprises a series of parallel disintegrating chains 14 suitably guided in guideways on the swingable frame or bar structure 9 for circulatory movement in vertical orbits and these chains carry disintegrating instruments 15 in the form of bits which detach and disintegrate the coal or other mineral from the solid coal seam or mine vein and as the mineral is detached or torn away toward the free face of the solid vein or seam, it is moved by the upper runs of the disintegrating chains 14 rearwardly along the top of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism to discharge onto the front conveyor 12, which in turn discharges into the hopper 11; and the disintegrated coal or other mineral is removed from the hopper and conveyed rearwardly of the apparatus by the rear discharge conveyor 13. Carried by the sliding frame 8 beneath the rearward portion of the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism is a scoop 16 for gathering up any loose coal or other mineral which has fallen to the mine floor from the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, and this scoop directs the loose coal so gathered rearwardly onto the forward receiving end of the front conveyor 12.

A pair of motors 18, 18, preferably electric motors of the water-cooled type, carried by the swivelled supporting frame or turntable 6 at the opposite sides of the hopper 11, serve to drive the endless chains of the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism through self-adjusting connections 19 fully disclosed in the applications above referred to, and one of these motors drives through a drive connection 20 the front conveyor 12. A pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston devices 21 arranged transversely on the base serves to swing the swivelled frame 6 horizontally relative to the base; a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston devices 22 serves to move the sliding frame 8 rectilinearly back and forth along its guideways relative to the swivelled frame; a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston devices 23 serve to swing the frame or bar structure 9 in vertical planes about its pivot relative to the sliding frame 8, and a hydraulic cylinder and piston device 24 serves to tilt the scoop 16 upwardly with respect to the mine floor. A motor 25, likewise preferably an electric motor, carried by the base drives a pumping means 26 for delivering liquid under pressure from a tank 27 on the base to the various hydraulically operated devices of the apparatus. The crawler treads of the tractor base 3 serve to propel the apparatus about the mine and to steer the apparatus in a well-known manner. By swinging the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism 10 about the swivel axis of the swivelled frame or turntable 6, it may be located in different radial positions relative to the base to attack and disintegrate the solid coal seam or mine vein in a series of vertical segments of the working face so that the entire width of the working face may be dislodged and disintegrated in successive steps; and the front conveyor 12 is arranged to discharge into the hopper 11 in all radially adjusted positions of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, all in the manners fully disclosed in the'above mentioned Russell and Sibley applications.

The frame 4 of the tractor or crawler base 3 has an annular portion 29 arranged between the tractor treads and providing an open center and having an inwardly directed annular flange 30. Arranged within the open center of the annular frame is an annular portion 31 by which the hopper 11 is supported in a position substantially centrally of the open frame of the turntable, in stationary relation to the base frame. The circular frame has an annular portion 32 of the swivelled supporting frame or turntable 6 rotatably mounted thereon and this annular portion surrounds the hopper in the manner shown. The closed bottom portion 33 of the hopper projects downwardly within the open center of the annular frame and the forward portion 34 of the rear conveyor frame projects upwardly and rearwardly from the rear side of the hopper as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

An electric conductor cable 35, as shown in Fig. 2, is adapted for connection to any suitable source of electric power and leads into the base of the apparatus to the pump driving motor 25 and a portion of this electric cable extends forwardly within the base at 36 (Fig. 7) to one of the motors 18, and a conductor'cable portion 37 extends from this motor across the base beneath the turntable to the other motor 18. A valve box 40 is mounted on the base and contains conventional slide valves as is likewise fully disclosed in the Russell and Sibley applications mentioned above. The pumping means 26 is of a conventional type and has its suction side connected by a conduit 41 to the tank 27, and the discharge side of the pumping means is connected by a conduit 42 to a pressure passage of the valve box. The discharge passage of the valve box is connected by discharge conduit 43 back to the tank. A slide valve 44 has its receiving-bore in the valve box connected by a conduit 45 to a junction box 46 carried by the base centrally beneath the upwardly inclined portion 34 of the discharge conveyor 13 at the rear side of the turntable (Fig. 3), and a passage 47 in this junction box is connected by a flexible conduit 48 to a junction box 49 carried by the swivelled frame 6 within the latter beneath the front conveyor 12 at the front side of the turntable. A passage 50 in the front junction box 49 is connected by flexible conduits 51, 51 to the cylinders of the hydraulic cylinder and piston devices 23 on the sliding frame 8 for swinging the frame or bar structure 9 in vertical planes. A slide valve 53 in the valve box 40 has its receiving-bore connected by conduits 54 and 55 to the rear junction box 46 which has passages 56 and 57 connected by flexible conduits 58 and 59 respectively to passages 60 and 61 in the front junction box 49. The passage 61 is connected by flexible conduits 62, 62 to the front ends of the cylinders of the hydraulic cylinder and piston devices 22, and the passage 60 is connected by flexible conduits 63, 63 to the rear ends of the cylinders of these devices. A slide valve 64 in the valve box 40 has its receiving-bore connected by a conduit 65 to a passage 66 in the rear junction box 46 and this passage is connected by a flexible conduit 67 to the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder and piston device 24 for tilting the scoop 16. A water conduit 68 leading to any suitable water supply source is connected to a passage 69 in the rear junction box 46 and thi passage is connected by a flexible conduit 70 to a passage 71 in the front junction box 49. The passage'71 is connected by flexible conduits '72, 72 to the cooling means for the electric motors 18, and the cooling water after passage through the motor cooling means is discharged from the motors through conduits 73, 73 and a branch conduit 74 to a valve device 75 which may be similar to that fully disclosed in the Samuel Levin application Serial No. 19,698, filed April 8, 1948, now abandoned, owned by the assignee of the present invention. This valve device contains a slide valve which, when the sliding frame 8 is retracted, is held closed and which automatically opens when the sliding frame is moved forwardly to sump the coal attacking and dis integrating mechanism 19 into the coal or other mineral. When the valve is open, water may flow from the branch conduit 74 through a conduit 76 and branch conduits 77, '77 to spray nozzle devices 78, 78 located at the opposite sides of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism for spraying water on the coal in the zone of action of the disintegrating chains to allay the dust. A branch conduit 79 leads forwardly through the frame or bar structure 9 of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism to suitable discharge nozzles 80 at the outer end of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism intermediate the disintegrating chains, for spraying water directly on the coal face as is fully disclosed in the above mentioned Sibley application.

The front junction box 49 is mounted on the horizontally swingable frame 6 to swing horizontally with the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism relative to the base, while the rear junction box 46 is mounted in a relatively stationary position on the base, and therefore, to permit freedom of relative swinging movement of the junction boxes without interference by the conductor elements the intermediate portions of the conduits 48, 58 and 70, the conduits 59 and 67 and the electric cable 36 are formed in flexible loops or bights, to provide the necessary flexibility of movement. The conduits 51, 51 and the conduits 67 have similar loops or bights (or swivelly jointed pipes) arranged as shown in Fig. 5 within the swivelled frame to provide the necessary flexibility when the sliding frame 8 is moved rectilinearly back and forth along its guideways relative to the swivelled frame.

Now referring to the improved guide 1 for supporting and guiding looped portions or bights of the conduits 48, 58 and 70, the conduits 59 and 67 and the electric cable 35, it will be noted that arranged on the rearward portion of the swivelled frame or turntable are arcuate top and bottom plates 82 and 83 formed in segments which at their inner ends abut at the vertical center of the swivelled frame or turntable, and these plates are vertically spaced to receive the flexible loops or bights of the conductor elements therebetween in the manner shown. The guide plates are arranged beneath the in- I clined portion 34 of the rear conveyor 13 as shown in Fig. 3 and partially surround the hopper 11 as shown in Fig. 6, at the rear side of the hopper. The sectional construction of the guide plates enables assembly and dismantling of the guide from opposite sides of the turntable without dismantling of the associated parts of the apparatus. The horizontal. bottom plate segments have lugs secured by screws 85 to threaded boxes 86 welded to the annular portion 32 of the turntable frame. The top plate segments have arcuate vertical inner walls 88 and upper walls 89 which incline upwardly and outwardly from the inner walls as shown in Fig. 5. The horizontal bottom plate segments rest on the annular turntable portion and have integral threaded bosses 90 which receive screws 91 passing through perforated lugs 92 welded to the inclined upper walls 89 of the upper plate segments, and these screws secure the bottom plate segments rigidly to the top plate segments. The inner and outer arcuate peripheral edges of the top and bottom plate segments desirably lie in concentric circles struck on radii extend ing from the swivel axis of the turntable as shown. Secured as by welding to the bottom plate segments are arcuate walls 93 which are spaced outwardly from the inner walls 83 in parallelism with the latter, and the flexible loops or bights of the conductor elements are guided between these parallel walls as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The inclined upper walls 89 are reinforced by angularly related horizontal and vertical plate sections 94 and 95 which are Welded to the bottoms of the upper plate segments and welded together at their adjoining edges. Oppositely positioned guide members 96 for the conductor elements are secured to the base frame at opposite sides of the rear junction box 46 and have upof the reinforcing plate sections 94 of the upper plate so that the slack portions or bights of the conductor elements are prevented from moving outwardly between the upper plate segments and the top of the junction box and becoming jammed as the turntable is rotated. The slack loops or bights of the conductor elements extend outwardly in opposite directions from the rear junction box along the guide members 96 towards the sides of the turntable and then loop or bend inwardly as shown in Fig. 6 with the loops extending in opposite directions in the guide and crossing or overlapping at the center of the guide as shown, and a spring clamp 98, secured as by welding to the turntable frame portion 32, is adjustable by a screw 99 to secure the overlapping portions of the conductor elements in a stationary position on the swivelled frame. The flexible conductor elements extend outwardly of the arcuate guide at the ends of the latter and pass sharply inwardly at 100 into the swivelled frame and then forwardly through openings 101 in a vertical wall 102 into connection with the front junction box 49.

As the swivelled frame is swung horizontally relative to the base the loop portions or bights of the conductor elements which lie in the space between the guide plates may move free and without undue tension. One of the extreme angular positions of the swivelled frame is shown in Fig. 7 and the loop portions of the conduits 48, 58 and '70 are shown pulled almost tight or straight, while the conduits 59 and 67 and the electric cable portion 36 assume the looped position shown. Due to the lengths of the loops or bights between the spring clamp 98 and rear junction box 46 the conduits are, however, never placed under undue strain so that there is at no time any danger of breakage. The conduits are of suflicient stiffness that when nearly straightened out upon swinging of the swivelled frame they automatically return to their normal looped shape when the swivelled frame is swung in the opposite direction and is brought into alinement with the base as shown in Fig. 6. As the coal attacking and disintegrating mechanism 16 is moved back and forth by the sliding frame 8 relative to the turntable, the flexible loops (or swivelly jointed pipes) of the conduits 51 and 67, at the sides and in advance of the front junction box 49, provide sufficient flexibility to prevent the placing of undue tension on these conduits. The spray water conduits 73, 74 also have sufiicient length to provide the desired flexibility to prevent breakage as the sliding frame 8 is moved outwardly.

As a result of this invention an improved guide is provided for adequately supporting and guiding the flexible portions of a plurality of conductor elements so that damage due to entanglement or obstruction is substantially avoided. The conductor elements which include portions of the electric cable and a plurality of fluid conduits are arranged in an extremely compact and well protected manner within the confines of the apparatus with which they are associated, and the flexible loop portions or bights of the conductor elements, which provide freedom of movement during the operating and adjusting movements of the apparatus, are at all times adequately guided. By arranging the guide in the manner disclosed with respect to the turntable and hopper of the apparatus, in a space already provided, the conductor elements are directed forwardly within the relatively rotatable parts of the apparatus without interference, and without increasing the external dimensions of the apparatus. By forming the guide in segments or sections it may be readily assembled or dismantled from the sides of the base without dismantling the associated parts of the apparatus. Other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodies in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining apparatus, a support, mining mechanism carried by said support for swinging adjusting movements horizontally relative thereto about an upright pivotal axis and including a motor swingable horizontally with said mechanism relative to said support, a power source on said support, a power conductor element for conducting power medium from said source to said motor, said conductor elementconnected at its opposite ends to said support andsaid motor respectively, said conductor element having an intermediate horizontal slack portion, and a horizontal arcuate guide swingable horizontally with said mechanism during said adjusting movements relative to said support and arranged a substantial distance below the top of said mechanism, said guide including areuate guiding elements lying in concentric circles struck on radii extending from the pivotal axis of said mining mechanism and cooperating to provide an arcuate horizontal guide chamber into which said conductor element extends for supporting and guiding said intermediate horizontal slack portion of said conductor element whereby said slack portion is supported and guided during such horizontal adjusting movements of said mechanism.

2. in a mining apparatus, a support, mining mechanism carried by said support for swinging adjusting movements horizontally relative thereto about an upright pivotal axis and including a motor swingable horizontally with said mechanism relative to said support, a source of power on said support, a power conductor element for conducting power medium from said source to said motor, said conductor element connected at its opposite ends to said support and said motor respectively, said conductor element having an intermediate horizontal slack portion, and a horizontal arcuate guide swingable horizontally with said mechanism during said adjusting movements relative to said support and arranged on said mechanism a substantial distance below the top thereof, said guide including arcuate guiding elements lying in concentric circles struck on radii extending from the pivotal axis of said mining mechanism for supporting and guiding said intermediate slack portion of said conductor element, said conductor element having a horizontal loop in its slack portion and said loop being received in said guide and supported and guided by the latter in all of the swivelled positions of said mining mechanism, said guide including parallel arcuate guiding portions and a cooperating horizontal bottom providing an arcuate chamber into which said conductor element extends and in which a portion of said conductor element is guided.

3. In a mining apparatus, a support, mining mechanism carried by said support for swinging adjusting movements horizontally relative thereto about an upright pivotal axis and including a motor swingable horizontally with said mechanism relative to said support, a power source on said support, a power conductor element for conducting power medium from said power source to said motor and connected at its opposite ends to said support and to said motor respectively, said conductor element having an intermediate horizontal slack portion arranged in the form of a horizontal bight, and an arcuate horizontal guide arranged on said mechanism a substantial distance below the top of said mechanism, said guide having its inner and outer edges lying in concentric circles struck on radii extending from said pivotal axis and swingable horizontally with said mechanism during said adjusting movements relative to said support, said guide supporting and guiding said intermediate horizontal bight of said conductor element in all of the angular positions of said mining mechanism about said pivotal axis.

4. In a mining apparatus, a support, mining mechanism carried by said support for swinging adjusting movements horizontal relative thereto about an upright pivotal axis and power devices for effecting operating movements of said mechanism and said power devices swingable horizontally with said mechanism relative to said support, power conductor elements for connecting a source of power to said power devices, said conductor 7 elements connected at their opposite ends respectively to said support and to power devices, and each having an intermediate horizontal slack portion in the form of a horizontal bight, and an arcuate horizontal guide mounted on said mechanism a substantial distance below the top thereof and having a horizontal bottom support with its inner and outer edges lying in concentric circles struck on radii extending from said pivotal axis and swingable with said mechanism during said adjusting movements relative to said support for supporting and guiding said horizontal bights of said intermediate slack portions of said conductor elements in all of the angular positions of said mining mechanism about said pivotal axis.

5. In a mining apparatus, a support, mining mechanism carried by said support for swinging adjusting movements horizontally relative thereto about an upright pivotal axis and including power devices for efiecting operating movements of said mechanism, said power devices swingable horizontally with said mechanism relative to said support, power conductor elements for connecting a source of power to said power devices, said conductor elements connected at their opposite ends respectively to said support and to said power devices, and each having an intermediate horizontal slack portion in the form of a horizontal bight, and an arcuate horizontal guide mounted on said mechanism a substantial distance below the top thereof, said guide having its inner and outer edges lying in concentric circles struck on radii extending from said pivotal axis and swingable with said mechanism during said adjusting movements relative to said support for supporting and guiding said bights of said intermediate slack portions of said conductor elements in all of the adjusted positions of said mining mechanism, said conductor elements having bight portions extending horizontally in opposite directions towards the opposite sides of said mining mechanism and having portions within said guide crossing one another at the longitudinal vertical center of said mining mechanism with portions thereof extending in opposite directions along the sides of said mining mechanism, and said guide having inner vertical arcuate walls along which said latter portions extend.

6. In a mining apparatus, a support, mining mechanism carried by said support for swinging adjusting movements horizontally relative thereto about an upright pivotal axis and including power devices for effecting operating movements of said mechanism, said power devices swingable horizontally with said mechanism relative to said support, power conductor elements for connecting a source of power to said power devices, said conductor elements connected at their opposite ends respectively to said support and to said power devices, and each having an intermediate slack portion in the form of a bight, and an arcuate horizontal guide having its inner and outer edges lying in circles concentric with said pivotal axis and swingable horizontally with said mechanism during said adjusting movements relative to said support for supporting and guiding said bights of said intermediate slack portions of said conductor elements in all of the adjusting positions of said mining mechanism, said conductor elements having horizontal bight portions extending in opposite directions towards the opposite sides of said mining mechanism and having portions within said guide crossing one another at the longitudinal vertical center of said mining mechanism with portions thereof extending in opposite directions along the sides of said mining mechanism, and said guide having inner vertical arcuate walls along which said latter portions extend, and an adjustable clamp on said mining mechanism and engaging the overlapping portions of said conductor ele- I0 ments for securing said portions in a stationary position relative to said guide, and said portions extending horizontally in opposite directions along the sides of the mining mechanism extending outwardly from said clamp.

7. In a mining apparatus, the combination with a mobile base, an open centered turntable mounted on said base to turn about a vertical axis, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said turntable, a hopper carried by said base centrally of said turntable within the open center thereof for receiving the mineral disintegrated by said mechanism and a power supply conductor element connected at its opposite ends respectively to said base and to said motor and having a flexible intermediate portion, of an arcuate horizontal guide carried by said turntable at the rear side, thereof and disposed a substantial distance below the top of said mechanism, said guide partially surrounding the base of said hopper for supporting and guiding said intermediate flexible portion of said conductor element in all angular positions of said turntable and said mechanism about the turntable axis relative to said base.

8. In a mining apparatus, the combination with a mobile base, an open centered turntable mounted on said base to turn about a vertical axis, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said turntable, a hopper carried by said base centrally of said turntable within the open center thereof for receiving the mineral disintegrated by said mechanism, a rear discharge conveyor overlying said base for moving the disintegrated mineral from said hopper and for conveying the disintegrated mineral rearwardly of said base, a motor on said turntable for driving said attacking and disintegrating mechanism and a power supply conductor element connected at its opposite ends respectively to said base and to said motor and having a flexible intermediate portion, of an arcuate horizontal guide on said turntable at the rear side thereof beneath said rear discharge conveyor and partially surrounding the lower portion of said hopper for supporting and guiding said intermediate flexible portion of said conductor element in all angular positions of said turntable and said mechanism about the turntable axis relative to said base. v

9. In a mining apparatus, a mobile base, a frame swivelled on said base to swing horizontally with respect thereto about an upright pivotal axis, a vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said horizontally swingable frame, motor devices on said frame for driving said mechanism and for effecting certain operating and adjusting movements thereof relative to said base, a plurality of flexible power conductor elements connected at their ends to said base and to said motor devices for supplying power medium thereto and having intermediate flexible horizontal loop portions, and an arcuate horizontal guideon said swivelled frame at the rear end thereof a substantial distance below the top of said mechanism and extending arcuately on a radius struck from the pivotal axis of said frame for receiving and guiding said flexible loop portions.

10. In a mining apparatus, the combination with a mobile base, an open centered turntable on said base, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said turntable and adjustable therewith and movable relative to said turntable into different operating positions, a hopper carried by said base centrally of said turntable within the open center thereof for receiving the mineral disintegrated by said mechanism in all of the operating and adjusted positions of the latter, a motor on said turntable for driving said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, a plurality of power devices carried by said turntable for effecting said operating movements of said mechanism and a plurality of power supply conducting elements connected at their opposite ends respectively to said base and to said motor and to said power devices and having flexible intermediate portions, of an arcuate horizontal guide on said turntable at the rear side thereof a substantial distance below the top of said mechanism and 11 partially surrounding the lower portion of said hopper for supporting and guiding said intermediate flexible portions of said conductor elements in all adjusted positions of said turntable and the operating positions of said mechanism relative to said turntable.

11.In a mining apparatus, the combination with a mobile base, an open centered turntable on said base, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said turntable and adjustable therewith and movable relative to said turntable into different operating positions, a hopper carried by said base centrally of said turntable Within the open center thereof for receiving the mineral disintegrated by said mechanism in all of the operating and adjusted positions of the latter, a motor on said turntable for driving said attacking and disintegrating mechanism, a plurality of power devices carried by said turntable for: effecting said operating movements of said mechanism and a plurality of power supply conducting elements connected at their opposite ends respectively to said base and to said motor and to said power devices and having flexible intermediate portions, of an arcuate horizontal guide on said turntable at the rear side thereof a substantial distance below the top of said mechanism and partially surrounding the lower portion of said hopper for supporting and guiding said intermediate flexible portions of said conductor elements in all adjusted positions of said turntable and the operating positions of said mechanism relative to said turntable, said intermediate flexible portions of said conductor elements being arranged in the form of horizontal bights and said bights extending horizontally in opposite directions within said guide, and said guide having arcuate vertical walls and a horizontal bottom support extending between said walls along which portions of said conductor elements lie.

12. In a mining apparatus, the combination with a mobile base, an open centered turntable on said base, vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism carried by said turntable and adjustable therewith and movable relative to said turntable into different operating positions, a hopper carried by said base centrally of said turntable within the open center thereof for receiving the mineral disintegrated by said mechanism in all of the operating and adjusted positions of the latter, a motor on said turn mechanism and a plurality of, power supply conducting elements connected at their ends to said base and to said motor and to said power devices and having flexible horizontal intermediate portions, of an arcuate horizontal guide on said turntable at the rear side thereof and partially surrounding said hopper for supporting and guiding said intermediate flexible portions of said conductor elements in all adjusted positions of said turntable and the operating positions of said mechanism relative to said turntable, said intermediate flexible portions of said conductor elements being arranged in the form of horizontal bights and said bights extending horizontally in opposite directions within said guide, said guide having arcuate vertical walls along which portions of said conductor elements lie, and said flexible portions of said conductor elements forwardly of said bights crossing one another within said guide at the center, thereof, and a clamp on said turntable engaging said crossed portions of said conductor elements for securing the crossed portions in a stationary position with respect to said guide.

13. In a mining apparatus, a support, a mining mechanism mounted on said support to swing horizontally with respect thereto about an upright pivotal axis and having a fluid operated device swingable horizontally therewith and to which fluid is adapted to be supplied, a fluid conductor for conducting fluid from a source of fluid to said device, and having a flexible horizontal slack portion connected between said device and said support, and guiding and supporting means mounted on said mechanism a substantial distance below the top thereof, said supporting and guiding means swingable horizontally with said mechanism and arranged horizontally and arcuately with respect to said mechanism between concentric circles struck on radii extending from the pivotal axis of said mechanism for supporting and guiding said flexible horizontal slack portion of said conductor in all horizontally swung positions of said mechanism.

14. In a mining apparatus, the combination with a support, a mining mechanism mounted on said support to swing horizontally with respect thereto about an upright pivotal axis and having a motor swingable horizontally therewith and a flexible conductor for connecting said motor to a source of power and having a flexible slack portion connected between said motor and said support, of guiding and supporting means swingable horizontally with said mechanism and arranged horizontally and arcuately with respect to said mechanism a substantial distance below the top of the latter for supporting and guiding said flexible slack portion of said conductor in all horizontally-swung positions of said mechanism, said guiding and supporting means including a horizontal supporting plate and an inner vertical guide wall lying in a circle struck on a radius extending from the pivotal axis of said mechanism, said slack portion of said flexible conductor resting on said horizontal plate and extending horizontally around said vertical guide wall as it passes toward one side of said mechanism.

15. In a mining apparatus, a support, a mining mechanism mounted on said support to swing horizontally with respect thereto about an upright pivotal axis and having a motor swingable horizontally therewith, a flexible conductor for connecting said motor to a source of power and having a flexible horizontal slack portion connected between said motor and said support, and guiding and supporting means swingable horizontally with said mechanism and disposed a substantial distance below the top of the latter, said guiding and supporting means arranged horizontally and arcuately with respect to said mechanism for supporting and guiding said flexible slack portion of said conductor, said guiding and supporting means including parallel arcuate vertical walls lying in concentric circles struck on radii extending from the pivotal axis of said mechanism, a portion of said flexible conductor extending between said spaced vertical walls as it passes toward one side of said mechanism and a horizontal bottom extending arcuately between said walls and on which said slack conductor portion lies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,414,092 Monahan Apr. 25, 1922 2,115,641 Levin et al Apr. 26, 1938 2,251,452 Hirst Aug. 5, 1941 2,263,779 Jefirey et al. Nov. 25, 1941 2,323,493 Sloane July 6, 1943 2,396,237 Baldwin et a] Mar. 12, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Bureau of Mines R. I. 3843, Nov. 1945 (262/41), Fig. 14 and pages 11, 12. 

1. IN A MINING APPARATUS, A SUPPORT, MINING MECHANISM CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT FOR SWINGING ADJUSTING MOVEMENTS HORIZONTALLY RELATIVE THERETO ABOUT AN UPRIGHT PIVOTAL AXIS AND INCLUDING A MOTOR SWINGABLE HORIZONTALLY WITH SAID MECHANISM RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT, A POWER SOURCE ON SAID SUPPORT, A POWER CONDUCTOR ELEMENT FOR CONDUCTING POWER MEDIUM FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID MOTOR, SAID CONDUCTOR ELEMENT CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID SUPPORT AND SAID MOTOR RESPECTIVELY, SAID CONDUCTOR ELEMENT HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE HORIZONTAL SLACK PORTION, AND A HORIZONTAL ARCUATE GUIDE SWIGABLE HORIZONTALLY 